CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A homeless man was found frozen to death underneath the Quarrier Street bridge in Charleston, according to police.
Investigators say a worker at the Holiday Inn Express discovered the body of Robert Hissom under the bridge behind the Charleston Civic Center.
Police say the bitterly cold weather took Hissom's life.
"Emergency crews arrived and he had been deceased for some time," Lieutenant S.A. Cooper said. "Nothing could be done for him."
Many people without a home this time of year have found refuge at local shelters.
"I feel saddened because they do actually have places to come in out of the cold," Robert McKinnon said. "Why some choose not to, I don't know."
"Homeless people got to find warmth, keep bundled up and try to find the best way to sleep possible and it's hard in these horrible (weather) conditions," Michael Rizer said.
Police are still sorting out the details as to why Hissom was living on the streets when the shelters were open.
"Many times they don't make it to the shelter due to an overindulgence in alcohol or drugs," Cooper said. "In this case, we're not sure yet."
Cooper added, "It's not something that happens everyday, but it's not the first time."
Friends of Hissom say he was a caring person who just recently lost his home.
"He was very friendly and he would do anything for anyone even though he was one of the people that needed the most help of all," Jamie Martin said. "He would always lend a hand."
Martin says he was involved in an auto accident at a young age that caused him to have brain injuries.
"There are so many people who care about Robbie," Martin said. "If he would have let someone know that he was in trouble, I would have been right there."
The bridge, used as a shelter was no match for the brutal cold.
Police say they're waiting on toxicology and autopsy reports but so far there's no sign of foul play
Police also say it appears Hissom may have died several days before he was discovered.
Keep clicking WSAZ.com for the very latest.
ORIGINAL STORY
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Charleston Police say it appears a man froze to death under the Quarrier Street bridge.
The body of Robert Hissom was found around 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Investigators say it appears Hissom died from being exposed to the brutally cold weather. Police say they believe he had died several days before he was found.
Investigators say Hissom had been homeless for the past several months.
Keep clicking WSAZ.com for more updates.
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